One of the things have been most proud of is the fact the that I have never been dependent upon another for my livelihood in my adult working life.  By the time I was a sophomore at Oklahoma State University, in 1993, I can tell I would be better suited working for myself.  Fortunately, my degree in chemical engineering is one that allows me to do just that.  During that time, I was sought out by an engineering company that offered me the opportunity to begin their environmental department.  Each member of that firm had over twenty years experience in their field.  Most of the engineers were licensed professional engineers.  I saw this is an opportunity to join a firm, pick up on the the experience of these engineers, and at the same time, to work for myself, or at least in part.  My job was to start and manage the environmental department of ENCO Engineering Co., Inc.  During that time, I incorporated my own company  and worked under contract into ENCO Engineering.  ENCO Environmental was incorporated March 29, 1996.  By the time it was incorporated, it already had several clients, many of which are major manufacturers in the Tulsa area. 

The entry into this marketplace was hindered by the fact the than 1996 when SARA Title III was enacted into law, it seemed everyone with a computer and a database had entered the field of "environmental compliance reporting" with their eye on making a quick buck.  Most of these people were unskilled, almost none of them had any kind of technical or scientific background and many on found themselves out of business.  However, industry was willing to pay a princely sum for a belief that they were in compliance.  In many instances, the client was paying more to have a one of these consultants prepare a "book of compliance reports" (which were mostly pre-printed text, not even related to the client) than it would cost to have a professionals on staff.  Some of these companies had been recognized for the frauds that they were by the time I entered the field, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of their former clients.  Still others continued to occupy the field and retain clients on the basis of automatically renewing contracts and the fear that they have instilled in their clients of the high cost of "non-compliance". 

My business model was completely different .  I was interested in telling the client the truth, not burying them in BS.  I provided the client the weather service provider who was an expert in this field.  A service provider who was a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, as well as a licensed professional engineer.  (At this time, I hold the title of licensed professional engineer in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.)  I was interested in the client being educated, understanding what reporting was necessary, and what was not, and the in the client be as well versed in the regulations as I was.  At the same time, I charged the client what the service was worth, not what my salary would have been working for them for the entire year.  As a part of my service, I make myself available to my clients are no charge .  This is just good old fashioned customer service as far as I can tell .  This work ethic has served me well.  Since the ENCO Environmental was incorporated, a I have never lost a client to another firm.  In over fifteen years, I have proudly provided this service to clients as large as multi-billion dollar, publicly traded corporations, and as small as companies that are barely large enough to trigger the reporting requirement. 

Fortunately, this work is for the most part seasonal, which allows me to continue operating the environmental business while the pursuing my other interests.